WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to Gateway Churches Podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.879 Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's message. 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:17.760 Well, good morning, church. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:20.640 Come on, let's put our hands together for Jesus one more time. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:23.280 Oh, come on, let's do better than that. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.160 What a great God we serve. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:29.519 We are glad you are in church. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:31.280 Want to say hello to all of our locations. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:33.039 Want to give a big shout out to Frisco. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:36.799 Tammy and I got to be there last week, and we have visited every campus now. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:38.640 We've been to every gateway campus. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:41.920 God's doing beautiful things across the life of the church. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:49.600 And uh, of course, to everyone joining us online or on demand later in the week in uh our prison campuses, our gateway gatherings. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:53.679 Such a big family that we have, and God's moving in great ways. 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:55.759 As you saw, Summerbash is coming up. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:58.640 So many good things happening in the life of the church this summer. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:00.320 So in June, Summerbash. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:04.719 So if you have children in that age category, then make sure you get registered. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:07.359 We would not want it to fill up and you miss out. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:09.120 And so go ahead and get them registered. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:11.840 It's gonna be a powerful time in God's presence. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:16.400 It's gonna be a powerful time sowing the word of God into your children. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.519 And uh, and let's be honest, a lot of your moms, you're like, what do I do with them this summer? 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:23.040 Can I get a better amen? 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:24.159 You're just like, what am I gonna? 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:25.760 So we we're gonna help you in that. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:27.359 So make sure you get them registered. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:34.640 Uh, of course, use con in July, so many great things, and then we'll start the fall, and then it'll be Christmas, everyone, and a new year. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:36.560 Happens that fast, right? 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:43.599 Um but today is a special weekend, not only Pentecost Sunday, but it's also Memorial Day weekend. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:55.760 And um, you know, my dad is uh was a Vietnam vet, and my father-in-law, 36 years in the Air Force, so Tammy and I have a ton of respect and admiration for our servicemen and women all around the world. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:00.959 And uh today, though, we honor those who gave their life, paid the ultimate price. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:08.800 We remember those who sacrificed so we could have freedoms like this, so we could worship freely, preach the word of God freely. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:15.759 And if you don't know this, Memorial Day started in the years following the Civil War, and it was originally called Decoration Day. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:23.759 And they would go out and decorate the gravesites of those who had paid the ultimate price and later become known as Memorial Day. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:29.199 And actually, it is observed at three o'clock on the last Monday of every May. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:37.439 And so technically at three o'clock tomorrow is when we pause as a nation to say we remember those who paid the ultimate price. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:47.439 And I think it's also fitting to remember those who are still here, who will have an empty seat at the table tomorrow, who have family members they have lost. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:55.919 And uh I'm reminded of John chapter 15, where Jesus said this greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for a friend. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:03:02.719 And so we thank God for all of those who have given of their lives so we could have the freedoms we have. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.599 Having you know that freedom isn't free, it comes at a price. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:08.960 We put our hands together and thank God for them. 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:13.680 Will you join me in prayer? 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:19.439 Father, we're grateful today for those who have paid the ultimate price that we might have freedom. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:30.639 We, God, give thanks that we live in a place where we can boldly proclaim the good news of the gospel, where we can worship without fear of retribution. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:31.759 We're grateful today. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:37.199 And I pray for the family members of those who will have an empty seat at the table. 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:44.240 That your grace and your peace and your presence would be with them in a real and a powerful way. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:51.439 And ultimately today, Lord, we remember the greatest sacrifice ever given, and that is your Son Jesus. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:04:00.000 Thank you for giving your life that we might be set free of sin and bondage and all the things that hold us back. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:01.520 We're so grateful today. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:02.400 We love you. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:04.319 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:05.840 Everybody said amen. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:06.879 Amen. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:08.560 You ready for the word of God today? 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:09.759 It's good. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:14.639 If you're new to Gateway, we love the presence of God and the word of God. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:17.680 And uh so we're gonna dive into the word of God today. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:20.560 Uh 1 Kings chapter 17, verse 1. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:23.600 I want to read that, and this is gonna be the verse we work from today. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:29.040 It says, now Elijah, Elijah's an Old Testament prophet, um, the Tishbite from Tishbi. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:31.439 I don't know why, but don't read that, I just smile. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:42.319 In Gilead said to Ahab, Ahab is the king at the time, he said, as the Lord, it's an important, the reason it's capitalized is because it's Yahweh. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:47.839 Um if you ever see it uncapitalized, just a little fun fact, then it's probably referring to the name of God Adonai. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:50.000 If it's like capital L, but the rest is lowercase. 00:04:50.079 --> 00:05:02.800 But when it's all uppercase, that refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years, except at my word. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:06.800 As the Lord the God of Israel lives, whom I serve. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.199 Elijah's talking to King Ahab. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:13.600 I want to bring a message entitled this, A Blueprint for Broken Days. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:15.839 A blueprint for broken days. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:22.240 How many of you would be willing to say you've had some days that from the beginning you were like, this is a messed up day? 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:27.199 And it may be something significant, it may be insignificant like one I had the other day. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:32.879 Um, if if you get to know me, is that I'm a everything I like things clean. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:35.920 Everything has a place and should be in its place. 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:39.360 I can't sit down at the house until everything's in its place. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:41.040 Tammy's like, Can't you just relax? 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:46.160 I was like, No, because I can't relax until that thing is in the dishwasher, and so I've got to go put it. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:48.000 anybody else with me? 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:49.519 All the organized people? 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:51.839 We're the things getting things done in the world. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:53.279 That's who we are. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:54.240 I'm kidding. 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:55.199 I'm joking. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:06:03.680 And uh, I mean, I'm just saying, if you're if your short sleeve shirts aren't all together and they're color coordinated and your long sleeves aren't all together, and your pants, how do you find anything? 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:05.279 Like, what are you doing with your life? 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:07.839 Okay, just kidding, sort of. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:10.480 I silently judge you. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:11.600 I gotta be honest, okay? 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:12.319 Confession. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:12.800 Okay. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:16.480 So I'm taking the kids to school one morning. 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:24.560 I got Jonas and Abigail, the little ones are coming with me, and I'm taking them to school because that morning Jonas has a play and he's in Peter Rabbit. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.439 First grade, Peter Rabbit, it's a big deal. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:28.879 He's the tree. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:32.720 He was playing the tree, and it was gonna be awesome. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:39.759 And how many of you know that if you have little kids, you better be there on time because the moment they step on stage, their their eyes are scanning, right? 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:45.279 They are looking for mom and dad, and if they don't fail, and that's why the parents are waving because they don't want to be in trouble later. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:48.240 Because they'll get that sad look on their face. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:54.319 And so I had I was leaving in time to drop him off, park my car, get in there, get a good seat, do the whole thing. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:07:10.319 And so um I get in the car, I get him in the car, Abigail jumps in, I put my backpack in the back, and um I sit down, I'm driving down the road, and at a light I look down, and I've got a grease stain about this big on my pants. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.120 Wasn't there when I left the house. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:18.720 Somewhere between the door and the garage and the car, I get this big grease bane on my pants. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:24.160 And so at this point, my blood is like, my blood pressure went from like zero to really bad. 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:25.199 Are y'all with me? 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:30.319 I'm a very even kill guy, very calm, not a lot rattles me. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:35.439 But when things like that happen, I think words that are not in the Bible. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:41.040 I don't say them, but as a man thinks in his heart, so is he, so I repent anyways, okay? 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:42.160 Just so you know. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:44.000 So I my blood is boiling. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:46.000 I'm like, where in the world did I get this dirt? 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:50.959 And I'm going into the school and and look like I don't know how to clean my clothes. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:59.360 And so I thought I'll drop him off, I'm gonna run to Target around the corner, I'm gonna find a cheap pair of khakis, I'm gonna change fast, I'm gonna get back. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.959 Well, I get there and it's not open. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:05.360 And if I don't get there in time, little guy will be looking for me and it won't be there. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:07.519 And so it's about the size of my phone. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:10.720 So I walk into the school and decide I'll hold my phone like this. 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:11.920 I'll just walk. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:19.360 So I'm walking around holding my phone like this, and finally I get through the whole thing and get back in the car and I go change and everything is good. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.079 But how many of you know we have some broken days, right? 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:28.879 And it may not be that yours is as insignificant in the scheme of things, that wasn't really a big deal. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:43.600 But maybe you know there are some significant moments where we have some broken days, and they may turn into weeks, and they may turn into months, and they may turn into long seasons where we feel like, oh God, when am I going to get out of this? 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.639 And so I want to ask you the question: what do you do on those days? 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:53.600 What do you do whenever things aren't going the way that you wanted to? 00:08:53.679 --> 00:09:02.080 And it may not be your whole life, it may be an area of your life, but how many of you know that when one slice of the pie isn't right, it affects the rest of the pie? 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:05.039 So, what do you do on those broken days? 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:16.399 I want to talk to you about a blueprint for those days, and I want to frame it in four questions that I want you to ask yourself when you face those days because how many of you know life is gonna happen? 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:19.039 Come on, how many of you know life's gonna happen? 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:24.240 It's gonna happen to all of us, whether we know God or you don't know God today, and you're checking it out. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:25.679 Life happens to all of us. 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.440 It's the human experience, and so what do we do on those days? 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:34.879 And I think we get a little lesson in this from Elijah in 1 Kings chapter 17. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:36.240 I want to give you a little context. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:38.799 So if you're the note-taking type, why do you write some things down? 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:41.840 If you're not, write them down anyways, it'll help you. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:46.399 Um want to give you a little context, so let's go to let's go to Sunday school, a little Bible study for a minute. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:47.679 If you're with me, say amen. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:51.279 All right, so Elijah is talking to King Ahab. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:54.879 King Ahab is the king of the northern kingdom. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:10:01.679 That may not mean a whole lot to you, but Israel, the nation of Israel, 12 tribes, they were a united kingdom until 1 Kings 12. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:03.440 Then they became a divided kingdom. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:07.919 You had the northern kingdom, which is Israel, you have the southern kingdom, which is Judah. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:10.960 The northern kingdom turned their back on God. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:14.000 And it began with King Jeroboam I. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:27.600 That name won't mean a lot to you, but he was the king that started them down an idolatrous pathway, meaning they stopped worshiping the true one God, the living God, and they started worshiping idols, and then it just went downhill from there. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:32.559 Because how many of you know, when you stop following the ways of God, life always goes downhill. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:36.240 And so it ends up in 1 Kings 16. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:40.240 You have King Ahab comes on the scene, and he's the worst king of them all. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.679 He's the most evil. 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:49.039 He institutes the worship of a false god named Baal, he sets up Asherapoles, and he marries Jezebel. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:54.000 Now you may not even have any Bible knowledge, but you're just like, Jezebel, that does not sound good. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:56.320 That is not a good one, right? 00:10:56.480 --> 00:11:04.159 And so he marries Jezebel and leads nation and leads Israel, the northern kingdom, into even more corrupt and idolatrous things. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:19.120 And so, in the middle of all that, in the middle of a very broken time, national apostasy, national unrest, this is where Elijah's trying to live for God and do what God wants him to do and be a mouthpiece for God. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:36.559 And so here Elijah is in the middle of that, and he goes to King Ahab and he says this, as surely as the Lord lives, right, in whom I serve, there's not gonna be dew, nothing from up the coming up from the ground, and no rain coming from the sky except at my word. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:41.519 Now, this doesn't seem like a big deal to us, other than like, man, what a flex. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:42.480 Right? 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:45.200 Like you're gonna go and cause this to happen. 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:52.960 But the story is much deeper than that because the god Baal in Canaanite mythology was the god of storm and rains. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.960 So it was quite savage what Elijah did. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:00.720 It was kind of a punch in the throat. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:01.919 Are y'all with me? 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.759 You're like, can you say that in church? 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:04.639 I did. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:17.600 Because what Elijah basically was saying is that Ahab, what you're serving, is a false God, and the God that I'm serve actually has the power to control the winds and the rains. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:25.120 And I just want you to know that that God whom I serve is going to cause there to be no rain or dew until at my word. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:34.000 It was a really interesting moment there, whenever he comes with this message before the king, and just to also point out the king could have killed him. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.440 He could have just annihilated him in that moment. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:44.879 But here comes Elijah boldly, confidently before the king, giving what God had told him to say. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:52.960 And the rest of this story, I think we find a blueprint because Elijah was living in a broken day. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:13:00.320 And maybe your broken day isn't national apostasy and idol worship that keeps you up all night. 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:08.159 And maybe the step of faith God is calling you to take is to go before a king and speak to power, the truth of God's word. 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:15.600 But no matter what your step is or what your situation is, if it matters to you, it matters to God. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:23.039 And so I want us to see what Elijah did and then take four questions, and you have to answer them for yourself. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:24.240 I can't answer them for you. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:27.039 But if I believe, if you do, they'll help you on broken days. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.480 If you're with me, say amen. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:38.879 Alright, so we know from James chapter 5, whenever we hear about the faith of Elijah, the Bible says he was a man just like you and I, but he prayed. 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.120 And when he prayed, what happened? 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:46.799 He got the word that we see in 1 Kings 17, 1 of what God told him to go tell Ahab. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:54.960 So question number one is this whenever you find yourself in broken days, unsettled moments, the question one I want you to answer is this what do you seek first? 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:59.279 What is the first thing that you seek? 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.799 You may have heard it said before, and maybe you've said it. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:04.799 I think probably I've said it before. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.879 Is that, well, I've done all I know to do. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:09.519 I guess now all that's left to do is pray. 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:14.320 Maybe we should flip that the other way. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:26.000 How would it change your life if you got into the habit and your natural response to pressure moments or broken days or whatever language you want to put to it? 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:29.279 But what if the first response was no, I run to God first? 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.320 The very first thing I do is I seek God. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:39.200 We see Elijah in a terrible situation among the nation, and the first thing he does is he goes and he seeks the heart of God. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:46.080 Because how many of you know that whenever you are facing some things in life, you don't need what your mama thinks about it, your daddy thinks about it. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:49.840 What you need first is what does God say about it. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:52.799 You should seek counsel and have godly wisdom. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:53.919 I'm all for that. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:58.639 But the first thing you should do is, God, I need to know what you're saying about this situation. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:06.720 And here's what I found in life is that often, often when life is good, we seek a little bit less. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:12.799 But when there's a little more pressure and pain, we seek God a little more. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:19.279 I've just watched it over and over, been preaching God's word since I was 17. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:24.960 Been leading in church for a long, long time, closer to 30 years. 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:27.679 And here's what I've noticed about human behavior. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:31.759 When life is tough, people lean into God. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.320 When life is tough, people lean in. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:39.360 I mean, church attendance is up. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.399 Like, you sit closer to the front. 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:56.639 I don't know if you think there's more anointing up here than there isn't, I don't know what it is, but you just, you know, the preacher I grew up with in Tennessee said, I get I sat close because I want to be close to the spot where the glory comes out. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.519 Sounds good theologically, wrong. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.360 It sounds cool. 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.559 And very country. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.840 That's where I grew up. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:10.480 How many of you know God answers the prayer? 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.759 God blesses. 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:15.679 Don't watch online this week. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:19.120 Maybe not leaning in in prayer like I used to. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.159 And so could it be this? 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:26.960 Could it be that the pain actually is a gift in our life? 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.799 Because it caused us to lean into God a little bit more? 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.600 Could it be the pressure actually became a gift? 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:35.279 I know you don't see it like that in the moment. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:38.080 I know in the moment it's like, dear God, just get me out of this. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:39.840 God remove this from me. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:51.759 But could it be, and I'm not saying God sends those things in your life, I don't believe that, but I do believe Romans 8, that he works all things together for the good of those who love him and are the called according to his purpose. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:55.519 And so I know they talk bad about you, but could it be a gift? 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.960 And I know you cried yourself to sleep, but could it be a gift? 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:04.319 And I know it didn't make sense in the moment and you didn't want to walk through that trial, but could it be a gift? 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:16.799 Because how many of you know that you came out on the other side more full of faith, stronger, more than a conqueror, loving Jesus more, knowing God in a way that you never would have known him before if you hadn't to walk through that valley. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.240 Could it be the gift? 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:25.519 And then on the other side of the blessing, may we not be the people that begin to retract a little bit? 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:32.079 Because now God fixed it, God did it, and now we don't engage like we used to. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.079 Where do you run first? 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:37.039 Elijah ran to the Lord. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:47.279 I think we also see in verse one, he says to Ahab, he says, The God, the Lord God in whom I serve. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:52.720 I think number two question I want for you that we see in Elijah is where do you find confidence? 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:57.519 Elijah was clear about where his confidence was. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:01.759 I pointed out in the text that it says, Lord, all capitalized. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:04.559 That means that it was the name Yahweh. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:10.480 It's the name that God disclosed to Moses that is his name, Exodus chapter 3. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.920 If you're with me, say amen. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.440 Exodus chapter 3. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:19.519 We see that he discloses the name Yahweh whenever Moses is at the burning bush, and ever he says, I am that I am. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.960 That's the name Yahweh. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:23.359 It means to exist or to be. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.880 So here's what God was saying. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:28.559 It's not great grammar in the English language, but he was saying, I be. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.559 That's who I am. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.519 I be. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:36.240 I think he left it at that. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:38.160 This is my speculation. 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:45.359 I think he left it at that because he would go on later to let us know that he be whatever it is that we need him to be. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:54.240 That he is, because Israel would need a deliverer and they would need a provider and they would need a sustainer and they would need a healer. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:19:02.960 And instead of God just holding Moses for eons and eons, letting him know everything that he was, he just went with Moses, all you need to know is I be. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:07.279 And whenever you get to an issue that you need in your life, I be that too. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:12.559 So he said, I'm Yahweh, and that is whom I serve. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:18.640 So Elijah wasn't coming to Ahab because he had some good self-talk. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:25.920 You know, that I'm strong and I'm capable and I can stand before Elijah and I'm gonna do the Superman pose. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.160 No, he wasn't coming in his own strength. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:33.440 He said, I come in the name of Yahweh. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:39.200 How many of you know that when you're fighting some spiritual battles in your life, you better not be coming in your name. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:42.319 You better not be coming in your small group leader's name. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:44.480 You better not be coming in your pastor's name. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:48.880 You better be coming in the name that is above every name. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:51.359 The name of Jesus. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:56.240 See, in the name of Yahweh, there's some things that it highlights. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:59.279 Number one, it highlights his sovereignty. 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:01.279 That he is a sovereign God. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.240 It means this. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:06.160 It means that he is in control of all things. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:09.440 There's nothing that is outside of his control. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:22.480 So Elijah wasn't just coming before King Ahab to give him a word from the Lord because Elijah had a type A personality and a whole lot of confidence, and he just went to tell him, and he was a great communicator. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:26.799 And that's no, he said, I come in the name of the Lord that I serve. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:30.160 And this is the sovereign God. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:34.400 Not only does that, it highlights his self-sufficiency. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.519 That means this. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:38.720 That means that he depends on nothing and no one. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:45.279 God's never had a day where he needed something from someone. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.720 You and I need things. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:53.920 We need water, we need food, we need sustenance for us to sustain our, but he is the self-sufficient. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:57.200 He is all good all by himself. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.799 He doesn't need relationship. 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:03.200 He's all good all by himself. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:05.200 He doesn't need our worship. 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.559 Are y'all with me? 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:14.079 He deserves our worship, but he's not up in heaven with some hole in his heart. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:21.920 Going, man, if only Cody would do that verse one more time, I would really feel fulfilled. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:23.519 Are you following me? 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.279 We don't serve a needy God. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:28.720 He is self-sufficient all in ourselves. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:30.799 And he is deserving of our worship. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.880 And he's worthy of our worship. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:36.000 It also highlights that he is the self-existent God. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:40.480 That means that he has no source other than himself. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:42.400 He's not a Tesla. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:45.359 He doesn't need to plug into something. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:48.000 He doesn't need to plug into some other power. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.440 He is the power. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.359 He is the source of it all. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:53.200 Come on, can I get a better amen? 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:55.200 We're talking about our God today. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.519 Let me give you a few more. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.880 He's immutable. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:01.519 Some of you are like, I didn't come to go to school today. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:02.720 This is going to help you. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:07.119 He's immutable, meaning this, he does not change in his character or his nature. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:11.920 Man, that should give you great confidence today that he's the same God that he was yesterday. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:17.920 He'll be the same today, and he's going to be the same in our future because he's the immutable God. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:19.279 He's a never-changing. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:22.319 If you ever have to worry, is God gonna forgive me today? 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:26.400 Yes, he is, because he's immutable, his character and his nature do not change. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:28.160 Is God gonna be there with me today? 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.880 Absolutely. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:32.799 Because he's immutable, his character and his nature do not change. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.319 But what if I walk away from him? 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:38.640 Will he pursue me like the shepherd pursued the one and left the 99? 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:41.039 Yeah, because that wasn't a one-off for God. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:45.599 He's immutable, his character and his nature never change. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.119 That's our God. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.279 That's who he is. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:52.880 It highlights his covenant faithfulness. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.319 That means this. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.440 This is our God. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:11.759 I just show you this why I want to stir a little confidence in you because here's what happens is that life goes by, disappointment happens, and we begin to lower God to the level of our experience. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:16.720 Instead of continuing to elevate him to the level of who he is. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:24.960 Just because my experience isn't what I want when I want doesn't change the nature of God. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:37.200 And so Elijah walks in to King Ahab with his spine stiffened and his head up and his shoulders back and declares the word of the Lord. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.759 He wasn't speaking the words of Elijah. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:51.920 He was speaking the words of Yahweh, the sovereign, self-existent, self-sustaining, covenant-keeping, immutable God. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:55.440 He was rooted in something deeper, y'all. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:24:06.160 And if you're going to make it through broken days, man, you better be more rooted than just a couple of cool phrases that look good on a coffee mug. 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:10.880 You better be rooted in Yahweh. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:17.839 He said to him, the God in whom I serve. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.079 Yahweh. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:23.599 I'm sending you a message on his behalf. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:27.359 And he actually does control the wind and the rays. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:31.680 He actually does control whether or not rain falls. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.839 Then he goes on to say this in verse 2. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:38.319 He says, Then the word of the Lord, Yahweh, came to Elijah. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:44.799 And he said, Leave here, turn eastward, and hide in the Karath Ravine east of the Jordan. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:47.119 Then he tells him how he's going to provide for him. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:51.279 You will drink from the brook, and I've ordered the ravens to feed you there. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:56.240 So he did what the Lord had told him. 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:59.759 He went to the Karath Ravine east of the Jordan and stayed there. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:01.119 This is important. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:02.640 He stayed there. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:06.480 He went to the place where God said the provision would be. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:13.920 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:18.400 Question number three is this are you willing to go there? 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:25.599 There for Elijah was the place of provision. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:30.319 It was the place that God told him, the raven's gonna meet you there. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:38.640 I'm gonna put you by a brook, and I want you to go hide there, and the raven will meet you there. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:42.319 This was the place where God said, I will provide for you. 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:48.400 I believe that if Elijah had gone to another brook against another river, he would have starved to death. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:58.640 Because the place of provision wasn't over there, it was where God said the raven was going to show up at the Careth ravine at that brook east of the Jordan. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:00.480 And it wasn't showing up somewhere else. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:05.839 And some of us were missing the provision of God because we didn't obey the last thing God told us. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:16.640 And God's like, I told you to go there, and that's where I'm at, and that's where my presence is, and that's where my provision is, but you decided to go somewhere else, or you decided to stay where you used to be. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:20.480 But he told Elijah, I want you to leave and hide over there. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:26.400 And some of us don't want to obey the word of the Lord because we feel like the word of the Lord is taking us backwards. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:32.559 I'm standing before kings, giving the word of the Lord. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:35.759 Then the next word of the Lord is, go hide. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:40.079 That seems backwards. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:44.799 I thought I'd go from being in front of kings to another king. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:49.359 But I went from being in front of a king to hiding. 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:53.519 Faith asked me the other day, the secondborn. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:57.759 She said, Dad, can you uh Apple pay me some money? 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.880 That's not new. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.319 That's not the new part. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:02.559 That happens every day. 00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.680 This was the new part. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:13.599 She goes, I'm wanting to get a disposable camera, and I'm gonna take pictures all summer, the summer before my senior year. 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:15.119 She'll be a senior next year. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:15.920 Pray for me. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.519 I've already cried over it. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:21.200 It means she's gonna go to college somewhere. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.960 I don't get it. 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:27.200 Um I was like, a disposable camera? 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.119 That is amazing. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:30.960 And I started thinking about this. 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:33.519 Sometimes God wants us to hide. 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.880 It seems like a step back. 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:39.359 She she went, I was like, why don't you use like the Fuji app on your phone? 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:43.920 Because it'll create the same kind of pictures, but she wanted the disposable. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:56.960 Now, if you don't know what a disposable camera is, there was a day back in the 1900s where you you didn't take pictures with a device. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:06.319 You know, you took them on a camera and it went click, then you rolled it, you're like 24 pictures left. 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:25.680 Then you would take that to the Walmart, not Walmart, the Walmart, and you'd give it to them, and then about a week or two later, 90% chance you would get your pictures. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.680 Come on, take it a better amen. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.160 Right? 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.119 That's true right there. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.799 That is true right there. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:40.559 And you and so what would happen is in the meantime is they would take that film into the dark room, and in the dark room, they would develop the film. 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.920 Can I tell you something? 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:49.039 There's some things God wants to do in your life that can only happen in the dark room of God's work in your life. 00:28:50.079 --> 00:29:05.359 Sometimes He's gonna take you hide, he's gonna put you by a ravine where no one is seeing you and no one notices you, and no one's watching you serve, and no one's seeing you be faithful to the word of God, and faithful to prayer, and faithful to worshiping and faithful to loving people that are right in front of you. 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:08.319 But can I tell you he's developing something in you? 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:11.039 God does his best work in the dark room. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:11.759 Hello, Moses. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:21.359 I'm gonna send you to the backside of the desert for 40 years where no one knows your name and no one sees you, so that one day you can lead my nation out of bondage. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:23.519 I'm gonna put you in hiding. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:26.079 Don't resist the dark room of God. 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:29.519 He does some of his best work in the dark room. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:32.480 But you've got to be willing to go there. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:44.400